Fifty-two Geisel students, faculty and staff submerge to raise funds for new Center

Support Geisel Students - and the Dean - in their Big Icy Plunge for Health Equity! Give now

Hanover, N.H.—A frigid day during Dartmouth's 2013 Winter Carnival was no match for the fiery passion of the Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine to improve lives.

Fifty-two medical students, faculty and staff sliced and slammed into the icy waters of Dartmouth's Occom Pond Friday, demonstrating a resolve to improve health inequities and disparities. With 50 of their classmates and faculty cheering them on from the snowy banks, the Geisel plungers raised attention and funds for the medical school's new Center for Health Equity and student fellowships. The Center provides funding support for students wanting to train in underserved areas locally and globally.

With Geisel students urging him on, Wiley 'Chip' Souba, Dean of the Geisel School of Medicine, leaps into the frosty waters of Occom Pond to raise support for medical students and health equity.

"We have amazing students at Geisel—they're not only extremely bright and curious, but they're defined by their compassion for others and their passion to tackle the tough challenges in our world," says Geisel Dean Wiley "Chip" Souba, MD.

"Seeing their tenacity to improve lives—and knowing I could advance our work to address health inequities—made my decision to enter the frosty waters a bit easier!" said Souba.

Geisel students Jullet Han (left) and Jennifer Etcheson (right), both first year students, make the icy plunge to support health equity.

The medical school's commitment to continuing to build this work through new initiatives such as the Center for Health Equity reflects Dartmouth College's long tradition of developing global citizens who will help tackle the world's most vexing problems.

Also, in February, at the Physicians for Human Rights National Student Conference in New York City, Geisel's student PHR chapter was named the top chapter in the nation. Geisel second-year student Anna Huh was selected for the PHR Emerging Leader Award, given annually to the student member who shows the most promise to become an influential leader in the field of health and human rights.